Riders/Edmonton game story, with quotes

The defending Grey Cup champions will be on the road for the 2014 CFL playoffs.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ hopes of a home playoff game evaporated Sunday when they lost 24-19 to the Edmonton Eskimos on Taylor Field. Saskatchewan led 13-4 at halftime before giving up 20 consecutive points.

A fourth successive loss left Saskatchewan with a 9-7 record. Edmonton (11-5) clinched second place in the West Division. The Calgary Stampeders (13-2) have nailed down top spot.

As a result of Sunday’s game, Saskatchewan will finish third or fourth in the West. In the event of a fourth-place finish, the Roughriders will cross over into the East Division for the playoffs.

“(The Eskimos) were just better today – no excuses,’’ Roughriders quarterback Kerry Joseph said. “We didn’t make plays when we had the opportunities.’’

Saskatchewan has lost five of six games without star quarterback Darian Durant, who suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow on Sept. 7. The Roughriders have started three different quarterbacks in place of Durant – most recently the 41-year-old Joseph, who was out of football until being contacted by the Roughriders two weeks ago. Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege were the other starters in Durant’s absence.

“I thought (Joseph) was awesome,’’ Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin said. “The guy was two weeks out of retirement.’’

Joseph was pleased to get back on the field and move the offence at times, but the bottom line was paramount to him after the game.

“We’ve got to win,’’ Joseph said. “There’s no consolation. There’s no prize for second in this league.’’

And no second place for the Roughriders, despite an encouraging start.

The Roughriders opened the scoring with a 43-yard field goal by Chris Milo at 6:55 of the first quarter before 32,421 spectators.

The field goal was set up by an Eskimos miscue. After fielding a punt on the Eskimos’ 36-yard line, Fred Stamps attempted to throw across the field to Chris Rwabukamba. Stamps was intending to lateral the ball, but the pass instead went forward and was snared by Mark LeGree on the Eskimos’ 39-yard line. After a short run and an incompletion, Milo hit the field goal to give his team an early lead.

Edmonton tied the game at 3-3 when Hugh O’Neill hit a 37-yard field goal at 3:22 of the second quarter. The Eskimos moved 60 yards in seven plays before O’Neill split the uprights.

The Eskimos went ahead 4-3 when O’Neill missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt. The result was a 48-yard single.

The Roughriders countered with 58 seconds remaining in the first half, when Joseph hit a diving Brett Swain for a 17-yard major. Milo’s convert put the Riders ahead 10-4.

On the scoring drive, Joseph completed four of six passes for 56 yards following a 30-yard punt return by Weston Dressler.

Tyron Brackenridge then intercepted Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly and returned the pick 26 yards. A face-mask penalty was tacked on, giving Saskatchewan a first down at the Edmonton 10-yard line. After back-to-back incompletions, Milo hit a 17-yard field goal to fatten the Riders’ lead to 13-4 with 25 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

Edmonton’s Kendall Lawrence returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 96-yard touchdown. O’Neill’s convert reduced the Riders’ lead to 13-11.

O’Neill’s 46-yard field goal at 9:56 of the third frame put Edmonton ahead, 14-13.

Another O’Neill field goal, from 29 yards away, gave Edmonton a 17-13 advantage at 1:50 of the fourth quarter. The field goal was set up by a Cauchy Muamba interception and 41-yard return.

On the Eskimos’ next possession, Reilly drove the Eskimos 84 yards in seven plays, running for a five-yard TD at 7:11 of the fourth quarter. O’Neill’s convert made it 24-13, Eskimos.

Saskatchewan narrowed the gap with 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Joseph found Korey Williams, playing his first game as a Roughrider, for a 28-yard TD. The two-point convert attempt was unsuccessful.

The Roughriders then attempted an onside kickoff, which was fielded by Devon Bailey to seal the outcome.

Joseph went 17-for-36 for 213 yards, with two TDs and two interceptions. He was named the CFL’s most outstanding player in 2007, three days before quarterbacking Saskatchewan to a 23-19 Grey Cup victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Joseph also rushed seven times for 21 yards on Sunday. Will Ford, starting at tailback in place of an injured Anthony Allen (back spasms), led the Roughriders in rushing yards, with 29 on seven carries.

Williams was the Riders’ top receiver, with four catches for 52 yards. Ex-Roughrider Adarius Bowman had game-high totals of six receptions and 111 yards for the Eskimos.

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